GST is being understood as the greatest economic reform being the destination based tax. Almost every sector has been ameliorated due to the Goods and Services Tax infusion in the economy. India braced itself to new tax slabs of 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28% for every product or service available in the market. There has been a fuss amongst all to know about the tax applicability on various goods and services after the GST instigations. Here, I scribble about the impact of GST on Women Essentials.

Goods and Services Tax

What bothers me to digest is that the government has taken this averse and abrupt proceeding concerning women. We all know what is the fuss all about, and yes, the extremely important women’s essential – sanitary napkins are taxed at 12%, as per the GST rule, while the condom and bindi, sindoor, bangles are not taxed at all.

Protest Against GST on Sanitary Napkins

Sex has always been a choice, but when did periods become a choice? Condoms are not taxed then why should tampons! Yeah, may be for the fact, that the sex is an inexorable and uncontrollable situation. Right? So it technically becomes government’s responsibility to protect the life and rights of the countrymen.

GST harsh on women?

One more galling the fact is that government thinks that the sindoor, bindi, and bangles are comparatively more essential to the women of the country than the sanitary napkins. These items are only important, just important, and not essential to women. #LahuKaLagaan is still on by the NGO “She Says” which filed a petition against the GST on Women Essentials.

#LahuKaLagaan

88% of women can’t afford and have no access to the sanitary napkins, and tax is not helping the situation anyway. And lack of menstrual hygiene claimed lives of many bleeding women and caused many UTI cases. The necessary safeguard for health and life for the menstruating women in India should be tax-free. It is tragic that the very fundamental concept is so difficult to be understood in India! Even tons have been appealing via twitter with strong reactions as the sanitary napkins are essentials, not the luxury.

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